Elsenham rider Ben Maher comes second in FEI Jumping World Cup at London International Horse Show

Ben Maher narrowly missed out on top spot in the FEI Jumping World Cup after a jump-off at London’s ExCeL on Sunday (December 22).

The Elsenham rider, who won his third Olympic gold medal in Paris this year, had to settle for second place behind Irishman Darragh Kenny.

The event was part of the prestigious London International Horse Show and was shown live on the BBC.

Maher, 41, was bidding to repeat the success he had in the competition last year riding Enjeu De Griejen.

This time around he was on 10-year-old gelding Point Break and produced a faultless round, timed at 63.31sec, on the technical course featuring 12 obstacles.

He was joined in the jump-off by Kenny and fellow Brits Robert Whitaker and Tim Gredley.

The latter, riding Imperial HBF, went first and knocked a single fence down in 40.09 before Kenny, on board Eddy Blue, went clear in 34.76.

Whitaker, riding Vermento, saw his chances of victory go up in smoke when the first fence fell to the floor.

It was then Maher’s turn and he produced a clear round, but the time of 35.15 was not enough to see him oust Kenny from the top of the podium.